Combination beverage can punch and bottle opening device



Sept. 9, 1958r n D. T. `f :ARLsoN 2,350,800

` COMBINATION BEVERAGE CAN PUNCH AND BOTTLE PENING DEVICE Filed nec. s,195e INVENTOR.

I Wd

A TTORNEK COMBINATION BEVERAGE CAN PUNCH AND BOTTLE OPENING DEVICEDrexel T. Carlson, Kansas City, Mo.

Application December 3, 1956, Serial No. 625,980 4 Claims. (Cl. 30-6.1)

The present invention relates to can and bottle opening devices, andparticularly to such devices as are used for removing the caps orclosure elements of bottles as well as those devices designed to punchopenings in metal cans for facilitating the pouring of the contentstherefrom; and the overall purpose of the invention is to provide asimplified as well as more eicient operating construction for suchdevices, both as regard the bottleV opening as well as the can-punchingfunctions.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the invention is to providean improved combination unit having both bottle opening and can punchingmeans in an assembly adapted to be mounted and attached in operativeposition to an upright wall or the like, or underneath a bar or counterstructure, and so constructed as to facilitate removal of said unit topermit ready and convenient operation of the bottle opening or canpunching means independently of the remainder of said assembly.

The invention further comprises specific features ofV improvement asregards the structure of the bottle open-v ing and can punchingelements, for increased refinement of operation and more efficientresults in carrying out the required bottle opening and can punchingfunctions, respectively.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the pres-V ent inventionwill now be described by reference to the accompanying drawingillustrating one suitable form of embodiment of the improved features ofthe new device, after which those 'features of construction andcombinations thereof deemed to be novel and patenta-ble will beparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure l is a perspective view showing a combinationbracket and bottleeopening and can punching device constructed inaccordance with my present invention;

Figure 2 lis a sectional elevation of the same, mounted underneath a baror counter and in operative relation to a bottle for removing the cap orcrown closure element therefrom; Y

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the combination structure attached tothe face of an upright wall, and in operative ,relation to a can forpunching vent and pouring openings 'therein (the dotted linesrepresentingV tion of a can `and the removable portion of the device theinitial point of operation);

Figure 4 is also an elevation showing the upper pordetached from itssupporting bracket portion and applied in operative relation to the topof the can for punching the required openings therein;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view, representing as'ection taken on theline 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an e-dge view (partly in section) illustrating a slightmodification of the removable slide unit forming part of theconstruction. n

A primeobject of the invention being to provide a combination orintegral unit having both bottle opening and can punching means in anassembly which may be States Patent O Patented Sept. 9, 1958 riceattached to a vertical Wall or, if desired, underneath a a combinationunit in its relation to a wall structure, whereas its position inrelation to a bar or counter is illustrated in Figure 2. In each of saidapplications of ,the device the operating member, combining the bottleopening and the can punching means in a single unit, comprises a slenderbar or plate10 constructed to provide both the bottle opening and canpunching elements, and in turn attached by rivets 12 or the like to theunder face of a second and slightly wider bar or plate 14 which isadapted to be removably inserted within a bracket member indicatedgenerally by the numeral 16.

This bracket member is stamped Ifrom suitable sheet metal to form a topportion 18 connecting a pair of spaced side wall portions 20 terminatingin a pair of rear end portions 22 combining to form a rear wall andhaving openings 23 to accommodate screws 24 designed to attach thedevice in outwardly projecting relation to any suitable wall structure26, as represented in Figure 3. The top portion 18 of the bracket memberis similarly provided with openings 23 for screws or the like, tofacilitate attachment of the device to the under face of a. bar orcounter structure 28, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The lower edges of the forward portions of the spaced wall portions 20of the bracket member are formed with inturned flanges 30 extending indownwardly and rearwardly inclined relation and designed to slidinglysupport the bottle opening and can punching means by engagement with theouter edges of the plate 14, which plate is retained in such slidinglysupported relation by suitable guide lugs 32 struck inwardly from theside walls 20 into overlying position above the plate 14, as clearlyillustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

The lower rear portions of the side walls 20 of the bracket memberextend so-me distance below the rear ends of the inturned flanges 30 andare integral with the rear end portions 22 of the bracket, but areiiared somewhat outwardly (as indicated at 20'), to facilitate insertionof the mouth end of a bottle-into cap-removing position, as hereinafterexplained. l

Referring further to the bottle opening and can punching unit,comprising the sliding plate 14 carrying the slightly narrower plate 10adapted to move within the slideway space extending between the parallelanges 30, said plate 10 is y'formed at its rear end with a downwardlybent lug 34 and also an adjacent downwardly struck lug 36 for bottle capengaging purposes, as shown in Figure 2; whereas the opposite end ofsaid plate 10 is also formed with a downwardly bent and slightlycurve-shaped lug 38 of triangular outline for cooperating with a pointedand downwardly extending lug 40 located about midway the length of saidplate, in the can punching operation. In this connection, the adjacentouter end of the plate 10 is formed with a downwardly projecting andinwardly curved flange -42 having a sharpened edge as shown, forcooperating with the end lug 38 in maintaining effective retainingengagement witzhgthe edge of the can in said can punching operation,sented in Figure'3.

In assembling the sliding unit, formed by the plates 10 Y and 14,iwithin the bracket member 16, the side walls 20 of the bracket aredesigned to slightly grip said unit for holding the same in place whenthe device is toV be used as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of thedrawing. vFor facilitating withdrawal of said sliding unit, for useindependently of the bracket member 16, in the manner illustrated inFigure 4, the front end of the bracket-member 16 is formed with adepending lip 45 vto serveas a thumb rest for aid in releasing said unitfromengagement with the side walls 20 as the unit is being withdrawn,

as 'repre- Referring now to the use of the device when attached toeither a vertical supporting member or underneath a bar or counter, asrepresented in Figures 2 and 3, it will be obvious from both theseillustrations that the device is equally well adapted for either bottleopening or can punching operations. The-inclined position of the slidingunit having the bottle or can engaging means is such as to facilitatethe locating of the bottle or 4can in initial operative position; and inthe case of a bottle 48 it is presented rst in-engagement with the lug36, for lifting engagement of its curved lip underneath the edge of thebottle cap t9-as shown in Figure 2. Beginning with the position of thebottle as indicated by the dotted lines, it is then swung forward intothe full line position, whereby the cap 49 is engaged by the lug 34,after which the continued movement of the bottle separates it from thecap, as shown. In this connection it is pointed out that the angularshape of the lug 36 is such as to provide ample clearance, and the loweredge of the lug is of thin edge form and also of approximately the samecurvature as the neck of the bottle, thereby facilitating readyengagement beneath the cap as well as insuring a maximum extent of suchengagement.

On the other hand, the method of operation for punching the requiredopenings in the end of a can is illustrated in Figure 3, the can i)being manipulated to bring the end edge or rim 52 of the can intoengagement with the lug 42, beginning with the can in the positionindicated by dotted lines in Figure 3 and then swinging the can downwardand toward the device into the full line position, whereby the end ofthe can is brought into engagement, first with the lug 38 for cuttingand punching a portion 54 of the end material to produce the pouringopening Sti-and thereafter into engagement with the pointed lug 4i) forpiercing said end material to produce the required vent opening 58. Animportant feature in this connection is the provision of the lug 42 witha thin lip or edge and of such curvature as to effect not only maximumengagement with the rim of the can but also operate to preventdisengagement from the can at any time during the punching operation.

In case it should be desired to use the device separately orindependently of the bracket or holder, either for bottle opening or forcan punching, the sliding unit is simply slipped out of the bracketmember, when it may be applied in the conventional manner for removingthe caps from bottles, or, in the case of can punching the method ofoperation may be followed as indicated in Figure 4. With the canpreferably resting on a table or other support the device is applied inapproximately vertical position to hook the lug 42 in engagement withthe rim 52 of the can in substantially the same manner as indicated inFigure 3 and as represented by the dotted lines in Figure 4, followingwhich the device is swung downwardly into approximately horizontalposition over the top of the can as represented by the full lines insaid Fig. 4, thereby accomplishing the same result as regards producingboth the vent and pouring openings as already explained. In eithermethod of operation the can punching action takes place with the can insubstantially upright position and hence without any opportunity ofspilling the contents.

The operation illustrated in Figure 4 can of course be carried out bysimply holding the can firmly in upright position independently of anyother support if desired, the only precaution necessary being themaintaining of the can in approximately vertical position.

It will therefore be apparent that I have devised a practical andefficient construction for the carrying out of the desired purposes ofmy invention. Its outstanding characteristics are the extreme simplicityof design as well as economy of construction, and the novel and highlyefiicient principle of operation involving a continuous operativemovement or stroke in one direction; and in the example illustrated inFigure 4 (where the operative action is downward toward the can) greaterstability is attained over the conventional method ofoperation-involving upward operative strokes away from the can and as aconsequence requiring extra force or means to hold the can in its properposition. Other advantages are the guiding elements for properpositioning of the bottle with reference to the cap lifting elements,and also the safety feature of the hook formation of the can engagingmeans to insure against casual disengagement before actual ycompletionof the punching operation.

The improved construction aims also to provide for increased insuranceagainst unsatisfactory punching of beverage cans, by the proper controlof the size of vent openings and thus guarding against an excessiveamount of air reaching the contents. It is further pointed out that thetype of improved construction illustrated is well adapted for home useas well as for bars and taverns or restaurants, etc., and moreover is ofsuch small proportions that it may well be included as part of vendingmachine equipment.

It is of course obvious that the improved device as above described andillustrated is susceptible of some minor modications, one form of whichis illustrated in Figure 6 ofthe drawing, showing the slide bar unithaving the can punching and bottle opening elements all constructed asone single and integral unit, comprising a single oblong plate 10 formedwith the end lug 42' and stamped to provide the can punching elements 38and 40 and bottle cap engaging elements 34 and 36', designed to functionin the same manner as the analogous parts of the form of constructionalready described; and, in a manner similar to said two-plate form ofconstruction, the side edges of the plate 10 are resiliently engaged bythe side walls 2t) of the bracket i6 and slidingly supported by theinturned tianges 30,-as will be readily understood.

Accordingly, while I have illustrated and described what I have found torepresent satisfactory and efficient types of construction for embodyingmy invention, I desire to be understood as reserving the right to makesuch modifications or changes as clearly fall within the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A manually operated can punching device, comprising a bracket memberadapted to be secured in fixed position and provided with an inclinedguideway, and a slide bar removably mounted in said guideway and havingcan punching means projecting therefrom, the bracket member beingprovided with daring guard extensions at opposite sides of said guidewayprojecting into housing relation to one end of said guideway andcorresponding end of said slide bar.

2. A manually operated bottle opening device, comprising a bracketmember attachable in fixed relation to either an upright wall face or independing relation to a horizontal structure and provided with aninclined guideway, a slide bar removably mounted in said guideway andhaving bottle opening means at one end of said bar, and guard extensionsprojecting from opposite sides of said bracket member into shieldingrelation to one of the ends of said guideway.

3. A manually operated can punching device, comprising a bracket memberadapted to be secured in fixed position and provided with an inclinedguideway, a slide bar unit removably mounted in said guideway andcomprising two bars of different width secured together in superposedrelation, said guideway including spaced flanges supporting the wider ofsaid bars and accommodating the narrower bar between said tianges, andcan punching elements supported in depending relation from said narrowerbar of the slide bar unit.

4. A manually operated can punching unit, comprising a bracket member ofresilient sheet metal forming a horizontal portion with dependingportions forming spaced side walls terminating in inclined edges havinginturncd anges, a slide bar unit removably mounted in said bracketReferences Cited in the Ele of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lMeieret al Mar. 26, 1940 Hothersall Jan. 27, 1942 Story Oct. 14, 1952Gutekunst Dec. 16, 1952

